Denise Welch has announced that she is stepping down from Loose Women.
In a video message posted on her Instagram page on Thursday evening, the Waterloo Road star revealed that she is leaving the panel show 25 years after first appearing on it, to focus on her acting career.
“This show has been part of mine and my family’s life for, well, nearly a quarter of a century,” she explained. “I have the most wonderful, wonderful memories and it’s just that acting has always been my first love and, I think, the thing I’m best at.
“At the moment, I’m having the most wonderful opportunities coming my way, and I’m grabbing them by the you know whats and running with it for this new chapter of my life. So, I just wanted to say that in person.”
She continued: “I’ve shared my life with you, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’m very Marmite but I cherish all the comments, good or bad, that I’ve had over the years. And I just hope you wish me well for this new exciting chapter in my life.
“I’ll miss everybody, but I will remain friends with the whole gang – because despite what you might read, we are a happy band of campers.”
Denise concluded: “Anyway, lots of love, and thanks for sticking with me.”
Her Loose Women exit comes at a time the show is already facing scrutiny, with panellist Nadia Sawalha claiming she’s taking legal action against ITV due to them allegedly treating her “unlawfully due to my protected beliefs”.
ITV has not yet publicly responded to Nadia’s claims.
Amy Brammall/ITV/Shutterstock
Originally known for her roles in shows like Spender, Soldier Soldier and Coronation Street, Denise first served as a guest panellist on Loose Women in 2001, before joining the show as a permanent presenter in 2005.
She left the show in 2013 amid creative differences behind the scenes, before finally returning in 2018.
In recent years, Denise has appeared in shows like Hollyoaks, Emmerdale and Channel 5’s Benidorm Is Murder, and she’s due to return to the reboot of Waterloo Road in 2026, too.
Earlier this year, she also appeared in the hard-hitting drama Tip Toe, with showrunner and writer Russell T Davies telling HuffPost UK: “She’s gorgeous. And a properly good actor! That’s the point!
“And I think, sometimes, [she’s] underrated as an actor, and that’s what was lovely about [having her be part of Tip Toe]. It was like, ‘come on, come and watch her do her stuff’.”
Outside of her acting career, Denise is also the mum of The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, which has allowed her to garner a new following thanks to her appearances at musical events like Glastonbury, as well as more celeb-focussed moments like Charli XCX’s wedding last year.
